My Guardian Angel

Chapter 17: Destructive Tendencies (Part 1)

The spring's air was brisk and pungent with the scent of pine, that breeze cool and subtle as it had enveloped around me and my exposed fingers while I held the candle.

The flame was weak while we once again roamed the empty arid grass field in the back of the school, though the flickering soon lessened, the fire strengthening, as we continued our walk.

My eyes were fixated on the flame like a hawk watching its prey, unable to let my eyes waver towards anything else. In that moment, it really felt like that flame was the only source of light. It beamed and filled the otherwise surrounding darkness, the careful shadows of the moon outlining the trees and bushes under an ominous glow. With such concentration, I accidently lost my footing, briefly, my eyes widening at the anticipation of falling down... though that never happened.

I felt an arm wrap around my torso, swiftly, pulling me against her. Katherine. A sheepish smile crept onto my pursed lips.

"Thank you," I whispered my appreciation.

Katherine nodded her head, her arm still securely around me, not giving off any signs of wanting to leave my body.

"Stay close to me..." she cued, her thumb brushing over my forearm. "...and I'll protect you."

I had no doubts about that. I had my own personal angelic bodyguard who wouldn't let a finger lay on me. It was a sweet thought. No one had shown such devotion towards my well-being. Not quite like Katherine did.

She leaned over, briefly, and rested her head over my shoulder, prior to moving her head and brushing her lips over my cheek. My heart skipped a few beats.

"Katherine, you're being very distracting," I whispered, not wanting Jack or Adam, who were walking a few feet behind us, to overhear our conversation. "I want to go into this with a leveled head." My cheeks flushed. "And, it's kind of hard to think about the idea of fighting with someone when I am thinking about how much desire I have for you."

Katherine's nose nuzzled against my cheek, her hand brushing my hair back; her fingertips sending a pleasant chill down my neck.

"Same here. I am not immune to the magic." Right, of course she isn't, though she makes a convincing stoic indifference.

My eyes left the flame and reached hers, first recognizing the admiration deep in her light blue orbs, and then lowering to her lips in which curved upwards into the most vibrant, though soft and concealed, smile- as though she was trying very hard to feign calm and not being flustered.

"I sometimes forget that you aren't," I vocalized, matching her smile.

I had the feeling that after that night, clarity would instill into our hearts, and all of our angst and sorrow would deplete and wash away at the depths of the Earth, leaving behind only the important emotions in which would effloresce our fortifying bond.

We continued our walk, the image of the school coming out of focus until it was hard to point out all together, and the flame soon stopped flickering, the light becoming still as our hearts.

Adam gulped, a bead of sweat forming over his brow.

"The flame," He pointed out what all of us were thinking.

"It stopped," I barely voiced above a whisper, almost frightened to.

Katherine's arm tightened around me, the other removing the flame-less candle from my hands' grasp and placing it beside us as we stopped our footsteps, gazing around our surroundings.

We had gone so far out that we were now completely encircled by tall pine and oak trees, the pale moon barely visible through the extended branches.

And, though my heart felt like it was increasing in its pace, a calm sense of security ran through me as I then remembered the feeling of Katherine's arm around me, keeping me on this plane. I leaned into her, unconsciously, as our eyes continued to scan the environment.